U.S. patent number 9,999,323 [Application Number 15/708,814] was granted by the patent office on 2018-06-19 for authentication reader and a dispenser comprising the authentication reader.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sun Chemical Corporation. The grantee listed for this patent is SUN CHEMICAL CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Charles Achkar, Jessica Blatt, Mohammad Farahat, Sidney Persley, Stephen Postle, Danny Rich.
United States Patent |
9,999,323 |
Farahat , et al. |
June 19, 2018 |
Authentication reader and a dispenser comprising the authentication
reader
Abstract
An authentication reader and a dispenser comprising the
authentication reader for authenticating a product having a taggant
ink disposed on the product's surface.
Inventors: |
Farahat; Mohammad (Wyckoff,
NJ), Blatt; Jessica (Hoboken, NJ), Persley; Sidney
(Laurence Harbor, NJ), Achkar; Charles (Cresskill, NJ),
Postle; Stephen (Glen Rock, NJ), Rich; Danny (Trenton,
NJ) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SUN CHEMICAL CORPORATION |
Parsippany |
NJ |
US |
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Assignee: |
Sun Chemical Corporation
(Parsippany, NJ)
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Family
ID: |
61010859 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/708,814 |
Filed: |
September 19, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20180028025 A1 |
Feb 1, 2018 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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15453789 |
Mar 8, 2017 |
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14122671 |
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9642501 |
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PCT/GB2012/051186 |
May 25, 2012 |
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15708814 |
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14880079 |
Oct 9, 2015 |
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61490691 |
May 27, 2011 |
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62062425 |
Oct 10, 2014 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Oct 20, 2011 [GB] |
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1118109.6 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06K
19/07749 (20130101); G07F 17/18 (20130101); A47K
5/1217 (20130101); B05B 9/085 (20130101); G06K
19/0614 (20130101); G07F 13/025 (20130101); G06K
7/10544 (20130101); G06K 19/06037 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06K
19/00 (20060101); B05B 9/08 (20060101); A47K
5/12 (20060101); G07F 13/02 (20060101); G07F
17/18 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;235/435,439,454 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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10254248 |
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Jun 2004 |
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DE |
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1671568 |
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Jun 2006 |
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EP |
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1824760 |
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Aug 2007 |
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EP |
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2033555 |
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Nov 2009 |
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EP |
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2376682 |
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Dec 2002 |
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GB |
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2004237489 |
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Aug 2004 |
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JP |
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9636557 |
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Nov 1996 |
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WO |
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93636556 |
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Nov 1996 |
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WO |
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0106453 |
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Jan 2001 |
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WO |
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2009086120 |
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Jul 2009 |
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WO |
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Other References
International Search Report issued in PCT Application
PCT/US2015/054995, dated Feb. 1, 2016. cited by applicant .
Written Opinion issued in PCT Application PCT/US2015/054995, dated
Feb. 1, 2016. cited by applicant .
Currency.gov, "$100 Note Issused 2013--present," available at
https://uscurrency.gov/sites/default/files/security/pdf/100_2013_Features-
.pdf (accessed Jan. 20, 2016). cited by applicant .
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Aug. 27, 2012
for priority application PCT/GB2012/051186. cited by applicant
.
Combined Search and Examination Report dated Feb. 8, 2012 for
priority Application No. GB1118109.6. cited by applicant .
Supplementary Search Report issued in European Counterpart
Application 15 84 8238 dated Feb. 23, 2018. cited by applicant
.
Related Application Statement of Feb. 15, 2018. cited by
applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Mikels; Matthew
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Achkar; Charles C. Ostrolenk Faber
LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/453,789, filed Mar. 8, 2017, which is a
continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/122,671, filed
12 Mar. 2014 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,642,501), which is a U.S.
National Stage of International Application No. PCT/GB2012/051186,
filed 25 May 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 61/490,691, filed 27 May 2011, and GB
1118109.6, filed 20 Oct. 2011, and this application is a
continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
14/880,079, filed Oct. 9, 2015, which claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/062,425 filed Oct. 10,
2014, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entirety and for all purposes.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An authentication reader for authenticating a product having a
fluorescent taggant ink disposed upon a surface of the product, the
reader comprising: a signal generator comprising an excitation
source that provides a light source having a source wavelength or
wavelengths for exciting the fluorescent taggant ink to produce a
signal response of emitted light from the fluorescent taggant ink,
wherein the signal response of emitted light comprises a spectrum
of intensity peaks at multiple wavelengths and the multiple
wavelengths are different from the source wavelength; a RGB sensor
for receiving the signal response of emitted light from the
fluorescent taggant ink comprising output channels for the R, G,
and B components and the total signal intensity of the signal
response; a filter, positioned between the signal generator and the
RGB sensor, for blocking the source wavelength or wavelengths from
the sensor; and control circuitry coupled to the signal generator,
the RGB sensor and a database containing data corresponding to
signal responses associated with taggant ink, wherein the control
circuitry compares the signal response with the data of an expected
signal response stored in the database to determine if the signal
response matches an expected signal response in the database, and
positively authenticate the product as authentic when the signal
response matches the data.
2. The reader of claim 1, wherein the authentication reader is
incorporated into a coffee brewer.
3. The reader of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent taggant ink
comprises at least one fluorescent dye and wherein the fluorescent
dye, when excited by the excitation source, produces the spectrum
of intensity peaks at multiple wavelengths.
4. The reader of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent taggant ink is in
the form of a secure glyph having a geometric pattern.
5. The reader of claim 4, wherein the secure glyph further
comprises an intellectual property protected feature which
comprises at least one of an overt feature and a covert
feature.
6. The reader of claim 5, further comprising a detector for
detecting the intellectual property protected feature.
7. The reader of claim 4, wherein the secure glyph comprises a
plurality of materials with differing ratios and differing
characteristic excitation patterns.
8. The reader of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent taggant ink
comprises a mixture of a plurality of taggant materials, and the
plurality of taggant materials have different emission
wavelengths.
9. A dispenser having the ability to authenticate a beverage
containing cup comprising: a base unit for retaining a beverage
containing cup having a fluorescent taggant ink disposed upon a
surface of the cup; an authentication reader for authenticating a
beverage containing cup comprising: (1) a signal generator
comprising an excitation source that provides a light source having
a source wavelength or wavelengths for exciting the fluorescent
taggant ink to produce a signal response of emitted light from the
fluorescent taggant ink, wherein the signal response of emitted
light comprises a spectrum of intensity peaks at multiple
wavelengths and the multiple wavelengths are different from the
source wavelength; (2) a RGB sensor for receiving the signal
response of emitted light from the fluorescent taggant ink
comprising output channels for the R, G, and B components and the
total signal intensity of the signal response; (3) a filter,
positioned between the signal generator and the RGB sensor, for
blocking the source wavelength or wavelengths from the sensor; and
(4) control circuitry coupled to the signal generator, the RGB
sensor and a database containing data corresponding to signal
responses associated with taggant ink, wherein the control
circuitry compares the signal response with the data of an expected
signal response stored in the database to determine if the signal
response matches an expected signal response in the database, and
positively authenticate the beverage containing cup as authentic
when the signal response matches the data; and a dispensing
mechanism for dispensing a beverage via the beverage dispensing cup
upon the beverage dispensing cup being authenticated.
10. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the dispenser is a coffee
brewer.
11. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the fluorescent taggant ink
comprises at least one fluorescent dye and wherein the fluorescent
dye, when excited by the excitation source, produces the spectrum
of intensity peaks at multiple wavelengths.
12. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the fluorescent taggant ink
is in the form of a secure glyph having a geometric pattern.
13. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the secure glyph further
comprises an intellectual property protected feature which
comprises at least one of an overt feature and a covert
feature.
14. The dispenser of claim 13, further comprising a detector for
detecting the intellectual property protected feature.
15. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the secure glyph comprises a
plurality of materials with differing ratios and differing
characteristic excitation patterns.
16. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the fluorescent taggant ink
comprises a mixture of a plurality of taggant materials, and the
plurality of taggant materials have different emission
wavelengths.
17. The reader of claim 1, wherein the RGB sensor provides the
color of the signal responses and the total signal intensity to
indicate signal concentration.
Description
FIELD
The present invention is directed to an authenticating apparatus,
system and a method for authentication of an object or product.
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing a
product.
In particular, it relates to a dispenser of the kind having a base
unit containing a dispensing mechanism and a refill which is
removably insertable into the base. In some embodiments, a refill
takes the form of a product container such as a coffee brewing
cup.
Such dispensers can be used, for example, for dispensing fluids.
These may be liquid soaps and the like, or may be used to dispense
fluid food stuff such as coffee or sauces with a mustard or
ketchup-like consistency. They may also be aerosol type dispensers
for dispensing air freshener and the like, or dispensers for solid
objects such as tabs, lozenges or wipes.
With such dispensers, there is a general desire to authenticate the
refill which is placed in the dispenser in order to maintain
quality control, and for safety reasons, to prevent dispensing a
sub-standard or hazardous product.
Systems and methods have been employed to prevent or reduce
counterfeiting, infringement and the parallel importing of objects
and products carrying a valuable piece of intellectual property,
such as a company name, logo, image, brand, copyright or
trademark.
Most systems and methods contain one or more protection features in
the form of security or authentication measures classified into
three types of object or product authenticity protection, each
offering a different level of security. These are referred to in
the security industry as a "Level 1" (readable by an ordinary
citizen), Level 2'' (machine-readable with immediate response) and
"Level 3" (machine readable with dedicated tools where the response
is not readily obtainable in real time, or other forensic means)
security measures.
A Level 1 security measure involves the use of features that can be
recognized overtly, e.g. by sight or touch by an end user of the
object or product. Such features include holograms and markings by
optically variable ink. In the case of a hologram, one is looking
for a specially designed holographic pattern and in the case of an
optically variable ink, the marked pattern shows different colors
when viewed at different angles.
A Level 2 security measure involves the use of covert or
semi-covert features that require interrogation by a simple and
easily obtainable detection device. Examples include printed
sectors in banknotes bearing fluorescent marks made from inks
containing downconverter and upconverter taggants. In this case,
one only needs an ultraviolet or infra-red laser interrogation
source for verification of an object or product having the ink
applied. When light in an appropriate waveband is illuminated onto
the ink containing taggant, due to the taggant, the ink will emit
visible light, which can be observed readily by the naked-eye.
Alternatively, the ink may, due to the taggant, emit radiation of a
wavelength invisible to the naked-eye, but readable and verifiable
by a suitable reader.
Finally, a Level 3 security measure involves the use features that
are generally known only to the brand or currency manufacturer of
an object or product and can be verified, usually not in real time,
by dedicated interrogation tools that cannot be readily obtained
commercially in the marketplace.
US 2010/0149531 is directed to a Level 2 authentication measure and
describes an authentication method for an object or product
containing an image, where the image contains or forms part of a
taggant used in a coded readable security feature. The coded
readable feature is subject to an authentication process that
identifies and verifies the object or product. However, because the
taggant represents the only source of the identification and
authentication security feature, and given that the machine
readable security feature of the image is coded, it therefore does
not contain or form part of an intellectual property protected
feature. As a result, a counterfeiter would find it relatively easy
to introduce counterfeit or infringing objects or products
containing or using the coded image into the commercial stream
where such objects and products are marketed and sold. For example,
a counterfeiter could evaluate and ultimately determine how to
identify, source and formulate the taggant, reproduce the coded
security feature of the image and apply it to a copied or
counterfeit object or product, then introduce such object or
product into the commercial stream.
Alternatively, a counterfeiter could evaluate and ultimately
determine how to decode and reprogram the authenticating reader
used to read the existing coded security feature of the image
containing or forming part of the taggant so that it reads the
counterfeiter's coded image. By adopting either or both of these
approaches, a counterfeiter could successfully circumvent the
authentication process or measures being used by the owner or
marketer of the object or product without having infringed any
intellectual property right of the owner or marketer in the object
or product.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,403,223 is also directed to a Level 2 security
measure and describes an authentication method for textiles
containing two invisible designs having readable features and used
to identify, authenticate and track textiles. However, again given
that the invisible designs themselves are not, nor do they contain
any, intellectual property protected features, the invisible
designs serve as the only security feature for identifying and
authenticating the textiles. As a result, a counterfeiter would
again, find it relatively easy to introduce counterfeit, copied
textiles into the commercial stream without having infringed any
intellectual property right of the owner or marketer in the
textiles.
As for one way of authenticating refills, such as dispenser product
containers, is to use a magnet on the refill which is brought into
proximity with a reed switch on the base in order to complete a
circuit. This is disclosed in EP 1824760. This idea provides a
simple and cost-effective authentication system. However, it is
easy for a non-authorised refill to be produced simply by providing
a magnet at the correct location. Further, the system lacks
versatility as the base can only ever detect one type of refill. It
cannot be configured to detect different refills in different
products.
A further known method of authentication is disclosed in EP 1 671
568 and uses an electronic key, such as an RFID tag. Such tags can
be programmed with a unique identifier. The base is then provided
with control circuitry which reads the RFID tag and, if it detects
that the tag with an authorised code is present, it will allow the
dispensing mechanism to operate to dispense liquid. If no such tag
is identified, it will prevent operation of the dispensing
mechanism. Although such systems are commonly used, they are
relatively expensive in that they require each refill to be
provided with an RFID tag. In a low-cost system, where every penny
which can be shaved off the cost of the refill is critical, this
expense can be significant.
Also known in the art are optical systems, such as that disclosed
in WO 1996/036556. This is based on bar-code technology and uses a
scanning light which scans the barcode to check that the container
is authentic, and to obtain information about the nature of the
product in the refill which has a bearing on the subsequent
operation of the dispenser.
Such devices have a number of drawbacks. The requirement for a
bar-code on the refill means that a relatively large area of the
product must be taken up with the bar-code which detracts from the
appearance of the refill. Also, the physical size of the bar-code,
together with the space required for the scanner which detects the
bar-code means that the space required for such a system is
relatively large. Also, the fact that a bar-code is readily visible
in normal use means that it can readily be copied onto an
unauthorised product.
Given the size and complexity of such a system, this has generally
only been used in relatively large-scale mains-powered machines
such as beverage dispensers. As far as we are aware, this has not
been used on a smaller scale dispenser, for example, one which is
capable of being battery-powered.
WO 2009/086120 discloses a sensor for dispensing sheets of
material. It has an authentication reader which reads a mark on the
roll as it is dispensed from the dispenser. If it fails to
recognise an authentication mark, it determines 30 that the refill
is unauthorised and dispenses it at a faster rate. The idea is to
deter the use of unauthorised product by ensuring that this is used
up at a faster rate. This document discloses a non-exhaustive list
of suitable sensors which include barcodes, RFID tags, fluorescent
or phosphorescence inks, conductive particles, fibers, metals, tick
marks or ridges. Similarly, JP 2004/237489 discloses a roll of
thermal paper that is provided with an ink based authentication
mark which may be fluorescent or luminescent. In both cases, the
dispensers require the roll of material to be moved past the sensor
in order to allow the sensor to read the authentication mark. As
such, the mark must be continuous or repeat frequently along the
length of the material. Both devices are relatively large scale
mains powered devices that again require some relative movement in
order to function.
Embodiments described herein aim to provide a cost-effective
authentication system suitable for use with relatively small-scale,
low-cost dispensers.
SUMMARY
In one aspect, the invention provides a dispenser for dispensing a
product, the dispenser comprising a base unit containing a
dispensing mechanism for dispensing the product; a refill
containing the product and being removably insertable into the base
in a fixed position in which the product can be dispensed by the
dispensing mechanism, the refill having a taggant ink on part of
its external surface; the base being provided with a non-scanning
light source positioned to illuminate the ink when the refill is
inserted into the base in the correct orientation, the light source
having a first wavelength and the ink being arranged to cause the
ink to emit light at a second different wavelength; a sensor to
receive light emitted by the ink upon illumination by the light
source; and a control circuit to receive a signal indicative of the
wavelength of the detected light from the sensor, compare it with
stored data to determine whether the shift in wavelength of the
detected light caused by the ink indicates that the refill is
authentic, and prevent operation of the dispensing mechanism unless
the refill is authentic.
In one embodiment, the product is a fluid.
In another embodiment, more than one ink is printed on part of the
external surface of the refill.
In yet another embodiment, the refill has an outlet at its lower
end and the ink is printed on the lower end of the refill.
In one embodiment, the ink is a two-part cross-linked
formulation.
In a related aspect, the invention provides a refill for a
dispenser for dispensing a product, the refill containing product
and being removably insertable into a base in a fixed position in
which the product can be dispensed by the dispensing mechanism, the
refill having a tagged sensor ink on part of its external
surface.
In some embodiments, the refill can contain a fluid or a product
such as coffee through which a fluid such as water may flow to
dispense the coffee.
In another embodiment, the ink is a two-part cross-linked
formulation.
In yet another embodiment, the ink is applied by an inkjet printing
process. In a different embodiment, the ink is applied by a pad or
screen printing process. In another embodiment, the ink is on a
label which is stuck to the refill.
In another aspect, the invention provides a method of dispensing a
product from the dispenser as described herein, the method
comprising: inserting the refill into the base unit; illuminating
the light; sensing the light received from the ink; comparing the
detected light with stored data to determine whether the shift in
wavelength of the detected light caused by the ink indicates that
the refill is authentic; and allowing operation of the dispensing
mechanism if the refill is authentic.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a base unit for a
dispenser for dispensing a product, the base unit containing a
dispensing mechanism for dispensing the product; a means for
removably receiving a refill in a fixed position in which the
product can be dispensed by the dispensing mechanism, the refill
having a taggant ink on part of its external surface; the base
being provided with a non-scanning light source positioned to
illuminate the ink when the refill is inserted into the base in the
correct orientation, the light source having a first wavelength and
the ink being arranged to emit light at a second different
wavelength; a sensor to receive light emitted by the ink upon
illumination by the light source; and a control circuit to receive
a signal indicative of the wavelength of the detected light from
the sensor, compare it with stored data to determine whether the
shift in wavelength of the detected light caused by the ink
indicates that the refill is authentic, and prevent operation of
the dispensing mechanism unless the refill is authentic.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a secure glyph
comprising: a) an intellectual property protected feature; and b) a
machine readable feature having an overt and/or a covert portion;
wherein said intellectual property protected feature is either
recognized alone as a machine readable feature, or recognized in
combination with at least a portion of the machine readable
feature, by an authenticating apparatus to determine
authenticity.
Furthermore the present invention also provides an object or
product with a secure glyph thereon and a method of producing same
comprising providing an object or product and affixing or attaching
thereto, printing or coating thereon and/or incorporating therein a
secure glyph as herein described above.
The present invention also provides an authenticating apparatus for
determining the authenticity of an object or product having a
secure glyph thereon comprising: a) a database containing
associated data corresponding to a signal response from an
intellectual property protected feature alone, or combination with
a machine readable feature and b) an authentication reader having:
i) a signal generator capable of generating a signal response from
an intellectual property protected feature alone or in combination
with a machine readable feature on the secure glyph; ii) a signal
response detector capable of receiving the signal response from the
intellectual property protected feature alone, or in combination
with the machine readable feature; and iii) a signal processing
unit (SPU) for comparing the signal response from the detector and
the relevant associated data in the database.
The present invention also provides a device with an authenticating
apparatus associated therewith, or incorporated therein, for use in
combination with an authenticated object or product.
Furthermore, the present invention also provides a process for
manufacturing a device with an authenticating apparatus associated
therewith, or incorporated therein, for use in combination with an
authenticated object or product, wherein the process comprises
incorporating the authentication apparatus into the device.
Additionally the present invention provides a method for allowing
an object or product having a secure glyph to be accepted and used
for a specific intended purpose in a device, the secure glyph
comprising: a) an intellectual property protected feature; and b) a
machine readable feature; c) wherein said method comprises: i)
using an authenticating apparatus connected to the device to detect
and recognize the intellectual property protected feature alone, or
in combination with at least a portion of the machine readable
feature of the secure glyph on the object or product; and ii)
allowing the intended use of the object or product in the
device.
The present invention also provides a system for allowing a first
article to be used in combination with a second article comprising:
a) authenticating the first article having a glyph according to the
present invention thereon by detecting a characteristic feature of
the glyph with a detector; b) allowing the first article to be used
in combination with the second article.
Finally, the present invention provides an authentication method
for determining the authenticity of an object or product wherein a
secure glyph for determining authenticity has been affixed or
attached thereto, printed or coated thereon and/or incorporated
therein, the secure glyph having an intellectual property protected
feature; and a machine readable feature having a covert and/or
overt portion; wherein said intellectual property protected feature
is recognized either alone as a machine readable feature; or
recognized in combination with at least a portion being a machine
readable feature; by an authenticating apparatus to determine
authenticity; the method comprising subjecting the object or
product to an authenticating apparatus having: (i) a database
containing associated data corresponding to a signal response from
an intellectual property protected feature alone, or combination
with a machine readable feature; and (ii) an authentication reader
having: a signal generator capable of generating a signal response
from an intellectual property protected feature alone or in
combination with the machine readable feature on the secure glyph;
a signal response detector capable of receiving the signal response
from the intellectual property protected feature alone, or in
combination with the machine readable feature; and a signal
processing unit (SPU) for comparing the signal response from the
detector and the relevant associated data in the database; and
acknowledging and using the output from the authentication
reader.
The present invention also provides an authenticating apparatus for
determining the authenticity of an object or product having a
secure glyph thereon comprising.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention
will become apparent to those persons skilled in the art upon
reading the details of the methods and as more fully described
below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a cross-section through the Dettol.RTM. NoTouch.RTM.
product; and
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the authentication mechanism of the
present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of an authentication apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows a spectral curve with an analog signal converted to
discrete digital values.
FIG. 5 shows a typical object or product authentication work flow
according to a particular embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 illustrates the spectral range to scan in order to identify
a specific taggant material. In this illustration there are 2
taggants one scanning from WL1 to WL2 to read taggant 1 and one
from WL3 to WL4 to read taggant 2.
FIG. 7 illustrates a secure glyph with 4-fold rotational symmetry
and four readers to identify the geometric design, its position and
other graphics of the secure glyph.
FIG. 8 illustrates a secure glyph with 4-fold rotational symmetry
and four readers in which the secure glyph has been rotated to a
position where the readers cannot detect the geometric design,
position and other graphics of the secure glyph.
FIG. 9 illustrates a secure glyph with 6-fold rotational symmetry
and three readers in which the geometric design, position and other
graphics of the secure glyph are fully identified by the
readers.
FIG. 10 illustrates a secure glyph with 6-fold rotational symmetry
and three readers in which the geometric design, position and other
graphics of the secure glyph are fully identified by the readers,
even though the orientation is not the same as that in FIG. 7.
FIG. 11 shows a secure glyph having four colored areas and four
color-selective readers. The signal response for each reader is
proportional to the area of the secure glyph of a specified color,
when the glyph is interrogated with four separate wavelengths of
light and read by a reader, camera, spectrophotometer or the like
capable of distinguishing those four wavelengths of light.
FIG. 12 shows a secure glyph having four colored areas and four
color-selective readers. The signal response for this secure glyph,
and thus the presence or absence of any rotational symmetry of this
secure glyph (that is to say, does it appear as a single square of
fourfold rotational symmetry or as four conjoined squares of no
rotational symmetry) may be different depending upon which
wavelength(s) of light are used to interrogate the secure
glyph.
FIG. 13 illustrates a trademark glyph having three functionalities:
(1) trademark function (its shape), (2) an RFID antenna function,
and (3) a secure glyph function for authenticating an object or
product according to the authentication system and method of the
present invention.
FIG. 14 shows a trademark glyph having various printed colors
therein specified by known color specification systems and formed
from two different printing ink formulations where at least one
printing ink formulation contains a machine readable covert taggant
to be read by an authentication reader.
FIG. 15 shows the spectral reflectance factors for two principal
colors of the printing ink formulations used to print the trademark
glyph of FIG. 14.
FIG. 16 shows the spectral reflectance factors for two principal
colors of the printing ink formulations containing a low
concentration of methylene blue as the covert machine readable
taggant used to print the trademark glyph of FIG. 14.
FIG. 17 shows the different emission intensities of a diode laser
used to excite the methylene blue machine readable down converter
taggant present in the colored portions of the trademark glyph of
FIG. 14, along with two different printed film layer thicknesses
for the printing ink formulations containing the taggant.
FIG. 18 shows a Level 1 security measure trademark glyph, printed
with a conventional printing ink formulation. The trademark glyph
is visible to the human eye and machine readable with an optical
character reader or a camera used as the authenticating
apparatus.
FIG. 19 shows a printed trademark glyph where the machine readable
features is a printing ink formulation containing a taggant to be
read by an authentication reader.
FIG. 20 shows a printed trademark glyph where the machine readable
features is a printing ink formulation containing a taggant to be
read by an authentication reader.
FIG. 21 shows a printed trademark glyph where the intellectual
property protected feature is recognized as a combination of a
conventional printing ink and a machine readable printing ink
formulation containing a taggant to be read by an authentication
reader.
FIG. 22 shows a printed trademark glyph where the machine readable
features are printing ink formulations containing different
taggants to be read by an authentication reader.
FIG. 23 shows another version of the printed trademark glyph in
FIG. 21 where the intellectual property protected feature is
recognized as a combination of a conventional printing ink and a
machine readable printing ink formulation containing a taggant to
be read by an authentication reader.
FIG. 24 shows yet another version of the printed trademark glyph in
FIG. 21 where the intellectual property protected feature is
recognized as a combination of a conventional printing ink and a
machine readable printing ink formulation containing a taggant to
be read by an authentication reader.
FIG. 25 shows a printed trademark glyph where the machine readable
feature is a printing ink formulation containing a taggant with a
taggant ink overlay.
FIG. 26 shows a printed trademark glyph where the machine readable
feature is a printing ink formulation containing a taggant with a
taggant ink overlay.
FIG. 27 represents a trademark printed by prior art techniques.
More specifically, a trademark (i.e. an intellectual property
feature) is printed with a conventional printing ink formulation
where a machine readable overlay coating (e.g. containing a
taggant) is subsequently applied. Therefore, the trademark itself
is not printed such that it is capable of being recognized alone as
a machine readable feature. An authenticating apparatus could not
be used to authenticate the trademark since any machine read by the
apparatus of the machine readable feature in the overlay and would
not, in any way, be associated with the intellectual property
protected feature.
FIG. 28 represents a secure glyph where the intellectual property
protected feature is comprised of two distinct machine readable
features: (1) a conventional printing ink overlaid with an ink
containing a taggant; and (2) an ink overlay containing a taggant.
The intellectual property protected feature would be recognized via
a combination of the two machine readable features upon
interrogation by an authenticating apparatus.
FIG. 29 represents a secure glyph where the intellectual property
protected feature is comprised of three distinct machine readable
features: (1) a conventional printing ink overlaid with an ink
containing a taggant; (2) a combination of two taggant inks used to
represent a portion of the intellectual property feature of the
secure glyph; and (3) an ink overlay containing a taggant. The
intellectual property protected feature would be recognized via a
combination of the three machine readable features upon
interrogation by an authenticating apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
As specified in the Background Section, there is a great need in
the art to identify technologies for cost-effective authentication
systems and use this understanding to develop novel small-scale,
low-cost dispensing devices.
To facilitate an understanding of the principles and features of
the various embodiments of the invention, various illustrative
embodiments are explained below. Although exemplary embodiments of
the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that
other embodiments are contemplated. Accordingly, it is not intended
that the invention is limited in its scope to the details of
construction and arrangement of components set forth in the
following description or examples. The invention is capable of
other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various
ways. Also, in describing the exemplary embodiments, specific
terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity.
It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and the
appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the" include
plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
For example, reference to a component is intended also to include
composition of a plurality of components. References to a
composition containing "a" constituent is intended to include other
constituents in addition to the one named. In other words, the
terms "a," "an," and "the" do not denote a limitation of quantity,
but rather denote the presence of "at least one" of the referenced
item.
Throughout this description, various components may be identified
having specific values or parameters, however, these items are
provided as exemplary embodiments. Indeed, the exemplary
embodiments do not limit the various aspects and concepts of the
present invention as many comparable parameters, sizes, ranges,
and/or values may be implemented. The terms "first," "second," and
the like, "primary," "secondary," and the like, do not denote any
order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish
one element from another.
It is noted that terms like "specifically," "preferably,"
"typically," "generally," and "often" are not utilized herein to
limit the scope of the claimed invention or to imply that certain
features are critical, essential, or even important to the
structure or function of the claimed invention. Rather, these terms
are merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features
that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the
present invention. It is also noted that terms like "substantially"
and "about" are utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of
uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison,
value, measurement, or other representation.
It is also to be understood that the mention of one or more method
steps does not preclude the presence of additional method steps or
intervening method steps between those steps expressly identified.
Similarly, it is also to be understood that the mention of one or
more components in a composition does not preclude the presence of
additional components than those expressly identified.
Further, in describing the exemplary embodiments, terminology will
be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is intended that each
term contemplates its broadest meaning as understood by those
skilled in the art and includes all technical equivalents which
operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.
According to the present invention, there is provided a dispenser
for dispensing a product, the dispenser comprising a base unit
containing a dispensing mechanism for dispensing the product; a
refill containing the product and being removably insertable into
the base in a fixed position in which the product can be dispensed
by the dispensing mechanism, the refill having a taggant ink on
part of its external surface; the base being provided with a light
source positioned to illuminate the ink when the refill is inserted
into the base in the correct orientation, the light source having a
first wavelength and the ink being arranged to cause the ink to
emit light at a second different wavelength; a sensor to receive
light emitted by the ink upon illumination by the light source; and
a control circuit to receive a signal indicative of the wavelength
of the detected light from the sensor, compare it with stored data
to determine whether the shift in wavelength of the detected light
caused by the ink indicates that the refill is authentic, and
prevent operation of the dispensing mechanism unless the refill is
authentic.
The present invention provides a number of advantages over the
known authentication systems.
It is far more secure than a magnet based system or barcode as the
taggant inks are impossible, in practice, to copy. This taggant ink
also provides for greater security than the inks mentioned in WO
2009/086120 and JP 2004/237489.
The present invention also provides a very low-cost solution,
particularly in relation to the refill pack. Given the fixed nature
of the refill in the base, only a very small amount of ink is
needed. Estimates suggest that the cost of adding a taggant ink to
the refill is some 20% of the cost of including an RFID tag. Also,
the light source and sensor are relatively cheap as there is no
requirement for a scanning source as there is for example, for a
barcode system.
The present invention also provides versatility in that different
inks can be printed on refills containing different substances and
the control circuit can be programmed to detect these different
inks and, if necessary, operate the dispensing mechanism
differently for the different liquids.
The taggant, also known as a tagged sensor ink, is a high security
ink available, for example, from Sun Chemical Security, Gans Ink or
Flint Group.
With such an ink, the ink provider also provides the sensor and
control circuitry to detect specific characteristic signal emitted
by the ink. Such inks are known in high security applications such
as document authentication.
The present invention also extends to a refill for a dispenser for
dispensing a product, the refill containing product and being
removably insertable into a base in a position in which the product
can be dispensed by the dispensing mechanism, the refill having a
taggant ink on part of its external surface.
The invention also extends to the base unit, per se, and to a
method of using the dispenser.
The refill will generally have a non-absorbent surface as it will
be made of a material such as plastics or metal. The ink must be
securely attached to the reservoir as, if it is accidentally
scraped or knocked off when the user inserts the refill into the
dispenser. The refill will not work which will be highly
irritating.
Therefore, preferably, the ink is a two-part cross-linked epoxy
formulation. This has high adhesion properties. This is preferably
applied by a pad or screen printing process. It may be a
combination of a cross-linked pad print and a flexo solvent
formula. Alternatively, the ink is applied by an ink jet printing
process. The ink may be cured with UV light. As a further
alternative, the ink may be on a label which is stuck to the
refill, or applied using an in-mould technique.
One particular application for the present invention is Dettol.RTM.
No-Touch.RTM. dispenser. In such a dispenser, the refill has an
outlet at its lower end and is arranged to be inserted with the
outlet lowermost into the base. In such a refill, the ink can be
printed on the side surface of the lid surface of the refill.
However, preferably, the ink is printed on the lowermost surface of
the refill. This means that the optical light source and sensor can
be positioned where the least amount of ambient light is able to
penetrate.
An example of a dispenser and refill in accordance with the present
invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a cross-section through the Dettol.RTM. NoTouch.RTM.
product; and
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the authentication mechanism of the
present invention.
While the invention is being described with relation to a
particular product, it will be appreciated that it may be used for
any dispenser in which a refill is removably insertable into a
base. It may, for example, be battery-powered or mains powered. It
may be free-standing, built-in to a wall or other surround, or be
hand-held.
In another example, the product container is a beverage dispensing
cup that is inserted into a beverage dispensing machine or brewer.
The taggant on the beverage dispensing cup is then subjected
interrogation by an authentication apparatus incorporated within
the machine.
Upon interrogation, the beverage dispensing cup is subjected to
identification and authentication by the machine reader and the
process of using the beverage dispensing cup either continues or is
halted based on the results of the authentication for the taggant
appearing on the lid of the beverage dispensing cup.
Upon authorization of the taggant, the beverage dispenser continues
its operation and a beverage is brewed and dispensed.
At the point where the authentication occurs and is verified, the
reader may cause a trademark, logo or message to appear on the
display screen of the dispensing machine, and additionally a
message such as `ENJOY YOUR GENUINE BREW" or "AUTHENTICALLY BREWED"
is also displayed.
The trademark, logo or message continues to appear on the machine's
display screen throughout the brewing and dispensing process until
completion. The spent brewing cup may then be taken to a second
authentication center, where, upon presentation of said spent cup
to a second reader, a rebate or prize may be offered to the holder
of the spent cup. Upon non-verification of the taggant, the
dispensing machine does not brew or dispense a beverage and a
message appears on the display screen notifying the user. The
unused counterfeit beverage dispensing cup is then either deposited
in a repository, or otherwise held or rejected.
The dispenser of FIG. 1 is a hands-free dispenser which is
generally suitable for domestic use. The dispenser is primarily
intended to dispense liquid soap, but may also be used to dispense
other liquid or semi-liquid products (ideally with a viscosity
greater than water), such as hand cream, body lotion, moisturiser,
face cream, shampoo, shower gel, foaming hand wash, shaving cream,
washing up liquid, toothpaste, acne treatment cream, lubricant, a
surface cleaner or a sanitising agent such as alcohol gel.
The dispenser comprises two main parts, namely a refill 1 and a
base unit 2. The refill 1 provides a reservoir of liquid to be
dispensed and is fitted to the base unit 2 as set out below.
The base has an interface 3 into which liquid is dispensed from the
refill unit. The interface 3 is in fluid communication with a
dispensing tube 4. A pump 5 is selectively operable to pump a
metered dose of the liquid along dispensing tube 4 and out of
dispensing head 6.
The base has an infrared transmitter 7A which transmits an infrared
beam through a window 8 to a receiver 7B to sense the presence of a
user's hands in the vicinity of the dispenser. Control circuitry
reacts to a signal from the proximity sensor to activate the pump.
The illustrated sensor is a break beam sensor, but may also be a
reflective sensor. Although an infrared sensor is shown, any known
proximity sensor such as a capacitive sensor may be used.
The base unit 2 comprises a cowling 10 which forms a cup-shaped
housing surrounding a significant portion of the refill to protect
and support it. A spigot 11 projects through the base of the
cowling 10 to displace a valve and allow fluid into the base unit 2
for dispensing.
A small spot of a taggant ink is applied to the bottom face of the
refill unit (as shown in FIG. 2). Taggant inks are high security
inks available, for example, from Sun Chemical Security, Gans Inc.
or Flint Group. In such an ink, the optics described below are also
provided by the ink provider as they form a complementary pair with
the ink.
The refill unit is made from, for example, of polypropylene. This
is a type of plastic with relatively low surface energy as
determined by DIN 533364 or ASTM D2578 test methods (approximately
29 Dyn/cm), which causes poor adhesion when an ink is printed on
it. In order to enhance the adhesion of an ink on polypropylene,
its surface energy needs to be raised above that of the ink. For an
organic solvent based ink, the surface energy of the polypropylene
surface should increase above 40-42 Dyn/cm in order to achieve good
adhesion. In addition, use of a highly crosslinked ink will also
enhance adhesion on polypropylene. High cross linking may be
achieved by using two part inks that consist of a base ink and a
cross linking promoting additive.
As shown in FIG. 2, the base is provided with a blue LED 13. Next
to the blue LED 13 is a sensor 14 covered by a filter 15 to cut-out
light reflected or scattered from the LED. In this case, the filter
is orange to cut out the blue light.
The combination of the LED 13, sensor 14 and filter 15 are
contained within a housing 17 which has a window 18 through which
the light is transmitted to and received from a small spot of
taggant ink 12 located at the bottom face of the refill unit. The
side of the housing 17 is formed as a separate part 19 to the
remainder of the housing. The above described components are
mounted on a circuit board 20 which is slid into the housing which
is then sealed by the side part 19 of the housing. The circuit
board has a plug 21 from which cables 22 extend via a seal in the
side part 19 of the housing.
When the refill 1 is inserted into the base unit, the position of
the refill is fixed such that the two are precisely aligned so that
the taggant ink 12 faces the optics in the base unit preserving the
arrangement shown in FIG. 2. The refill is fixed in the sense that
it does not move with respect to the base during the dispensing
operation. Before authentication, the dispenser may dispense once
to prime the pump. In this position, light from the LED is incident
on the taggant ink 12. To calibrate the device to allow for ambient
light, the LED is turned on and off. The "off" reading is then used
by the controller to subtract the ambient light reading from the
signal from the sensor when the LED is on. The ink causes the
wavelength of the light to be altered. The emitted light is then
detected by the sensor 14.
Control circuitry then compares the signal received by the sensor
14 with stored data representing a wavelength and/or intensity
value associated with the fluorescent ink on an authentic refill.
In the case of taggant ink (also known as a tagged sensor ink), the
signature for a particular tagged sensor ink is initially
determined by spectroscopic and mathematical analysis of the
wavelength and/or intensity data obtained on various samples that
are printed on with the tagged sensor ink. Subsequently, this
signature is programmed into the control circuitry of the
dispensing device. If the signals from sensor 14 satisfy the test
conditions that are represented by the stored signature, the
control circuit enables the operation of the dispensing mechanism.
If the signal fails, the unit will repeat the process a number of
times before providing an error indication such as a flashing light
and it does not operate the dispensing mechanism. The light will
flash for a short while and then the dispenser will return to a
standby mode in which it will again attempt its authentication
routine if the infrared beam is broken.
A further embodiment of the present invention provides a secure
glyph, an object or product with a secure glyph thereon, a method
of producing the object or product, an authenticating apparatus, a
device incorporating the authenticating apparatus, a process for
manufacturing the device, a method for authorizing and/or allowing
the use of the object or product with the machine and thus a
preventing or inhibiting the use of an unauthorized/non authentic
object or product and an authentication method.
Attempts have been made to prevent the use of an unauthorized
object or product by positioning an identifier, either on the
object or product directly or on a substrate associated with the
object or product such as a lid or label, which can be detected by
the detector. Thus the use of the object or product is only
permissible when the authentication reader recognizes the
identifier.
It had previously been thought that an identifier employing a Level
2 security measure was unique and/or constituted trade secret
information and could not be hacked, copied or otherwise
reproduced. However, a problem arises when the identifier can be
reproduced, even if periodically reconfigured or reformulated, to a
required degree of accuracy to enable unauthorized producers,
suppliers and/or dealers to position the identifier onto a non
authentic object or product to be detected by a detector and
thereby allow the use of the non authentic object or product with a
device.
Furthermore even if the identifier is the subject of patent
protection, such as a unique taggant formulation, it is then
difficult and very involved to prove that anyone reproducing such a
formulation is, in fact, infringing the patent.
The present invention solves the above mentioned problem by
employing a secure glyph having a machine readable feature and an
intellectual property protected feature that can be employed to
prove infringement of the intellectual property feature of the
secure glyph and enable the owner of the intellectual property
right to prove the counterfeiting or unauthorized copying or
reproduction of the object or product.
Therefore unauthorized producers, suppliers and/or dealers
attempting to reproduce the secure glyph are deterred from doing so
given they would immediately become liable for the unauthorized use
of the intellectual property feature of the secure glyph and
subject themselves to intellectual property infringement
proceedings and the associated remedies upon counterfeiting,
copying or reproducing and/or using the secure glyph.
Thus the present invention is capable of extending the life span of
the security protection measure, such as a taggant subject to
utility patent protection, afforded a trademark owner, given that
in most cases, utility patent protection is limited to a 20 year
lifespan, whereas trademark protection has an unlimited life. This
particular aspect is advantageous given that it is not uncommon for
an object or product to have a marketplace life span that exceeds
the life span of any utility patent coverage for an object or
product in the marketplace.
The term "glyph" as used herein defines an elemental symbol having
a design feature within an agreed set of symbols, intended to
represent a readable (e.g. machine readable) feature for the
purposes of writing and thereby expressing or conveying thoughts,
ideas and concepts. Glyphs are considered to be unique marks that
collectively can add up to the spelling of a word or otherwise
contribute to a specific meaning of what is written, with that
meaning dependent on cultural, social and/or societal usage.
The term "secure glyph" as used herein defines an element that has
an intellectual property protected feature and a machine readable
feature.
Intellectual Property Protected Feature
The intellectual property protected feature is herein defined as a
feature that is represented and protectable or is protected by, for
example, at least one intellectual property right, such as a
trademark, trade secret, copyright or a registered design.
In particular, the intellectual property protected feature of the
glyph may, for example, be a copyrighted jingle that is immediately
played upon interrogation of the glyph by an authenticating
apparatus.
The intellectual property protected feature is preferably
recognizable by at least one unassisted human sense. Thus the
intellectual property protected feature may be visually
recognizable with the human eye, audibly recognizable, olfactory
recognizable and/or recognizable by touch. When the intellectual
property protected feature is recognizable by at least one
unassisted human sense it is considered to be "overt".
Alternatively, recognition of the intellectual property protected
feature may require the use of a detector when it cannot be
recognized by at least one unassisted human sense and is thus
considered "covert". The intellectual property protected feature
may also comprise an overt and/or a covert portion.
In particular, the intellectual property protected feature could be
a phrase or slogan that is protected by copyright, a scent, image
or design protected by a trademark or a trade secret.
Usually, the intellectual property protected feature is
recognizable with the naked eye and preferably is the subject of a
registered trademark.
Wherein the intellectual property protected feature is a trademark
the secure glyph is considered a "trademark glyph" which is a
particular type of secure glyph, specifically designed to be
representative of a registered trademark, trade name or logo, and
that is, or is capable of being, affixed or attached, printed or
coated and/or incorporated into an object or product requiring
authentication.
The intellectual property protected feature and the machine
readable feature may each be recognized alone, or in combination or
association with each other by an authenticating apparatus to
determine authenticity of the secure glyph.
The intellectual property protected feature may be recognized by
the authentication reader based on its shape, geometry and/or
symmetry.
In a particular embodiment of the invention at least one machine
readable feature is either positioned within the intellectual
property protectable feature, constitutes the entire intellectual
property protected feature or constitutes only a discrete portion
or section of the intellectual property protected feature.
The machine readable feature of the secure glyph may also have an
overt portion and/or a covert portion.
Secure Glyph
In a further embodiment of the present invention the entire secure
glyph may constitute an intellectual property protected feature
which may be formed from a machine readable feature.
The secure glyph in its entirety may be invisible to the "naked
eye" i.e. when both the intellectual property protected feature and
the machine readable feature both only have covert portions or may
be visible to the "naked-eye" i.e. when either the intellectual
property protected feature and/or the machine readable feature have
at least one overt portion.
Furthermore the secure glyph may be any geometrical form or pattern
such as a mark, trademark, logo, character, alphanumeric, drawing,
picture, semiotic, pictogram, hieroglyph, symbol, image, geometric
object and/or an embossed or deformed area.
The secure glyph design typically has a sufficiently high degree of
rotational symmetry, also known as "n-fold rotational symmetry"
such that the position of the secure glyph is not critical to its
recognition.
Wherein the authentication reader is capable of reading only a
single pixel or very few pixels of information, then the secure
glyph would require an infinite number of degrees of rotational
symmetry, such as a circular dot or ring, whilst the authentication
reader is capable of reading 2 or 3 pixels could reliably recognize
a regular hexagon, which would have six degrees of rotational
symmetry.
Preferably, the secure glyph has at least 3 degrees of rotational
symmetry, more preferably at least 4 degrees of symmetry and
advantageously at least 6 degrees of rotational symmetry.
Thus in one embodiment of the present invention the secure glyph
comprises a plurality of features of sufficiently high degree of
rotational symmetry such that one or all may be read by the
authentication reader.
Examples of secure glyphs having a regular polygonal shape are
shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 whilst a secure glyph having a star shaped
regular polygonal shape is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
Consequently a secure glyph shaped as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 can be
read at a plurality of points regardless of orientation, whereas a
secure glyph shaped as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 a positive
recognition requires the correct orientation.
Alternatively the secure glyph may be designed so as to lack
rotational symmetry. Secure glyphs lacking in rotational symmetry
include: numbers, letters, words, marks, characters (including, but
not limited to, those used to represent words in Chinese, Japanese
and Korean languages), hieroglyphs (including those, for example,
used to represent words in ancient Egyptian), pictograms and the
like.
Authentication Reader
In one embodiment of the present invention, the authentication
reader will read the entire secure glyph.
However, in an alternative embodiment the authentication reader
will only read certain points or sectors of the secure glyph and
this allows for a greater expression in the design of the secure
glyph and for reprogramming the authentication apparatus to sample
different areas of the secure glyph, either in response to
counterfeiting or in response to a change in the secure glyph or
another readable security feature of the secure glyph.
Advantageously, the secure glyph is provided with a means to
normalize its orientation, such as an orientation mark or symbol so
that the authentication reader recognizes the secure glyph in a
consistent manner.
This normalization can be accomplished by providing a further
reader that reads a fixed point, line or shape appearing at another
location on the object or product and providing a means to compute
the relative orientation and location of the secure glyph by
coupling the readings together.
Furthermore, the secure glyph may consist of a physical structure
that exhibits different heights from the surface of the object or
product, a so-called 3D effect and the reader detects the location
of the secure glyph at varying heights above the surface of the
object or product.
One non-limiting example of this embodiment is a concave mirror
(circular, paraboloidal or elliptical) which, when interrogated
with light, will have the property of refocusing said light back to
a point or to a line. Another non-limiting embodiment is a
microlens array that when interrogated with light, particularly,
but not limited to the visible wavelength light, there will be a
definite reflected pattern of light that may be used both to
authenticate and to visualize the secure glyph.
Machine Readable Feature
The machine readable feature is typically selected from
upconverters, downconverters, infra-red radiation absorbers,
quantum dots, RFID antennae, fluorescent compositions, liquid
crystals, electro-kinetic materials, thermochromic materials,
photochromic materials, piezochromic materials, sonochemicals,
magnetic materials such as ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic,
ferrimagnetic, and paramagnetic materials, combinations of dyes or
pigments readable by multispectral imaging, materials readable by
Raman spectroscopy and combinations thereof.
Preferably, suitable machine readable features may be formed from
materials such as fluorescent dyes, pigments, nano particles that
are visible or invisible in natural or room light, dyes such as
silicon 2,3-naphthalocyanine bis(trihexylsilyloxide), and/or other
metal complexed naphthalocyanine compounds, and/or other cyanine,
naphthocyanine or phthalocyanine dyes; glass encapsulated
nanoparticles such as CdTe, CdSe, PbS, PbSe, InAs; phosphors such
as YAG:Nd, Al.sub.2O.sub.3:Nd, and/or various other phosphor based
IR active nanoparticles.
Advantageously, the machine readable feature is preferably made of
fluorescent taggant materials that produce an emission spectrum or
signal response when the secure glyph is exposed to a certain
excitation source, such as electromagnetic frequencies, e.g. X-ray,
UV (Ultraviolet) light, visible light or IR (Infrared) light. The
emission spectrum may be in the UV, visible or IR spectral
ranges.
The material or materials for the machine readable feature may be
organic or inorganic and may be a solid, such as a powder, a
liquid, and/or a solid dissolved in a liquid or form a suspension
or dispersion in a liquid. Each fluorescent taggant material will
have its own characteristic excitation pattern and emission
spectrum.
A combination of secure glyphs using different materials, in
different ratios, having, for example, different characteristic
excitation patterns and emission spectrums, or the cascade of the
emission spectrum of one secure glyph to excite the emission
spectrum of a second secure glyph may also be used as the machine
readable feature.
As a further example, a mixture of materials for the machine
readable feature may have the same or different excitation
wavebands and thus when a mixture of taggant materials is used, not
only are the individual emission peaks of each material considered,
the whole spectrum profile for that particular mixture is also
important.
Thus, even for a single peak emission, emission amplitudes of
neighboring wavelengths may also be measured and taken into
account. In addition, for some fluorescent taggant materials,
employed in the invention, the dynamic characteristics of the
emission, such as the emission response time and decay time may
also constitute a significant secure glyph verification
criteria.
Machine readable features of the secure glyphs that are covert,
i.e. invisible to the naked-eye, include irreversible thermochromic
or photochromic taggant materials. These taggant materials are
typically interrogated by irradiation using a reader having a
suitable and appropriate type of heat or light source that would
render the secure glyph visible to the naked-eye due to a physical
change in the state or property of the taggant material.
Typically, secure glyphs that are invisible to the naked-eye
include ultraviolet-active photoinitiators. Together with an
ultraviolet-crosslinkable component incorporated therein these
taggant materials, upon irradiation with a suitable and appropriate
ultraviolet light source, become visible to the naked-eye as a
result of the photoinitiation and the change in the refractive
index of the taggant material.
Furthermore, secure glyphs that are invisible to the naked-eye and,
interrogated by a reader singularly or in a plurality of ways or
having more than one type of readable features, may be formed from
rare earth oxides or sulfides. These taggant or other types of
machine readable materials, when interrogated by electromagnetic
radiation display both upconversion and downconversion readable
properties. A non-limiting example of a secure glyph displaying
down conversion properties would be a combination of a colored
pigment having unique spectral characteristics with a Raman-active
secure glyph such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,610,351.
It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that
incorporating a taggant material into a secure glyph that provides
for a change in the reader visualization of the secure glyph during
interrogation, need not be the sole security or authenticating
feature offered by the secure glyph.
The secure glyphs of the present invention may be interrogated by
an authentication reader in more than one manner, e.g. either as a
singular secure glyph or plurality of secure glyphs or by
incorporating one or more of the above-mentioned taggants into the
secure glyph.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, there may be one
or more secure glyphs present on the object or product which may be
the same or different in their design or in the type of secure
glyph or readable security feature each possesses.
Furthermore at least one additional secure feature may be
positioned on or in association with the object or product.
In particular the at least one additional secure feature may be a
second secure glyph or it may be a secure feature interrogatable by
the same or different means as the first secure glyph. The
additional secure feature may be read by the same reader as the
secure glyph or it may be read by a second device either remote
from or integral to the first reader.
One advantage of this particular embodiment is that a counterfeiter
of the secure glyph will not be able to use counterfeit object or
product because the authenticating apparatus will still recognize
the object or product as non-authentic. It will be appreciated that
the authenticating apparatus may be configured, under these
circumstances either to overall reject the object or product as
non-authentic, or to accept the visualization of the counterfeited
secure glyph, and so display the trademark or other intellectual
property comprised in the secure glyph. This would render the
counterfeiter an unauthorized user of a trademark or other
intellectual property associated with the glyph.
Method for Producing Objects or Products
The present invention also provides an object or product with a
secure glyph thereon and a method of producing the object or
product.
The object or product is typically a beverage dispenser cup, a lid,
cover or label.
The secure glyph may be incorporated into the object or product
during its manufacturing process by mixing a taggant material used
to form the machine readable feature of the secure glyph into the
raw materials of the object or product and thus the machine
readable feature becomes an integral part of the object or
product.
In particular, when the taggant material used is a powder, it may
be mixed with plastic beads, fillers or adhesives or incorporated
into substrates such as textiles, woven fabric, non-woven fabric,
thread fibers, cardboard, concrete, polymer, glass, wood, paper
(including currency, certificates, licenses, identification cards,
and passports) metal, plastic, ceramic, cloth and leather.
Alternatively, the secure glyph may be embossed onto an object or
product, or attached to the object or product with an adhesive.
Preferably the secure glyph is printed or coated onto the surface
of an object or product using a printing ink, paint, epoxy or
lacquer.
A combination of the above-mentioned application techniques may be
employed.
Authentication
The present invention also provides an authenticating apparatus
which comprises a database containing data that corresponds or is
associated with a signal response generated from an authentic
intellectual property protected feature alone, or in combination
with the machine readable feature and an authentication reader.
Preferably, the authentication apparatus includes an output device
and advantageously a display unit.
The authentication reader comprises a signal generator capable of
generating a signal response from the intellectual property
protected feature alone, or in combination with the machine
readable feature, a signal response detector capable of receiving
the signal response from the intellectual property protected
feature alone, or in combination with the machine readable feature
and a signal processing unit (SPU) for comparing the signal
response from the detector and the stored signal response in the
database.
The authentication reader plays a critical role in the
authentication method, as it acquires information from the secure
glyph and conducts an analysis, based on the acquired information,
to authenticate the object or product.
Advantageously, the acquired information may be stored in the
database and may also be communicated e.g. via the internet to the
brand owner of the object, or any other legitimate interested
party. Furthermore the information obtained by the brand owner or
other legitimate interested party may be analyzed and
advantageously used to teach the authenticating apparatus improved
means of recognizing the authenticity of the secure glyph on the
object or product.
Additionally, the acquired information may also be used to provide
a response signal to a communication device associated with the
user of the object or product, such as sending a text message via
Bluetooth to a smartphone informing them of a prize they have won,
or directing them to a website of particular interest.
In one particular embodiment of the invention the authentication
reader may detect and recognize a signal response that is
representative of the entire intellectual property protected
feature of the secure glyph and thus the authentication reader is
considered to be in possession of the secure glyph and thus in
possession of the intellectual property protected feature as
well.
This is the case, for example, wherein the machine readable feature
of the secure glyph is, in itself, in the form of a trademark and
when the authentication reader reads the secure glyph it is also
reading and using the secure glyph as the trademark that appears on
the object or product.
Alternatively, the authentication reader may detect and recognize a
signal response that is associated with the intellectual property
protected feature and which is then compared with associated data
(such a signal response) in the database whereupon the entire
intellectual property protected feature of the secure glyph is
generated and thus only the authentication apparatus as a whole is
considered to be in possession of the secure glyph and the
intellectual property protected feature.
Advantageously, in both scenarios, the intellectual property
protected feature can optionally be displayed on a display unit of
the authentication apparatus, which may be remote or local to the
location of the secure glyph itself.
The signal generator of the authentication reader includes an
excitation source that usually provides at least one light source
such as a UV and/or an IR light source.
Furthermore the signal generator may include an excitation delivery
source, such as light optics, a focusing lens, color filters,
reflectors and optical fibers for optimized delivery to the
detector.
The signal response detector of the authentication reader may
include a multispectral image analyzer (hyperspectral image
analyzer) capable of analyzing light from the visible and
non-visible portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Preferably, the multispectral analyzer is an RGB (red, green, blue)
sensor, used to collect the RGB components of the signal
response.
The RGB sensor has output channels for the R, G and B components
and the total signal intensity (W) and provides the color of the
signal responses and the total signal intensity to indicate signal
concentration as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6. The sensor output
can either be in voltage, current or pulse frequency format.
Furthermore the RGB sensor provides for three progressive levels of
security in the analysis of the RGB signal emission profiles
namely, the wavelengths where the emission intensity peaks, the
peak wavelengths and the relative amplitudes of the peak emission
intensity wavelengths and the peak wavelengths of the relative
intensity amplitudes at the peak wavelengths and amplitudes of the
emission intensity at "all" wavelengths.
The emission intensities over the complete emission spectrum may be
digitized to form a bar graph where the amplitude and the width of
each bar is recorded and used for analysis of the signal response
by the SPU. Where the complete emission spectrum for a secure glyph
in the visible range is obtained, the emission color can also be
calculated to serve as an additional authentication characteristic
of the secure glyph. In addition, a fast response spectrometer can
be set to be proportional to signal emission intensities to give
one more dimension to the authentication algorithm.
Yet another layer of authentication protection may also be provided
by using a response time RGB sensor wherein one can record the
response time (rise time and/or decay time) of the signal response
and set it as another authentication readable feature criteria. In
such an embodiment, the database record would contain data for a
particular secure glyph's name-RGB values, intensity, decay
time-product information.
When the secure glyph is visible to the naked-eye such as
multi-colored glyph, then the intensity of the color signals
emitted from the secure glyph can also be used to identify the
secure glyph. The reflected light intensity will be proportional to
the area of the secure glyph within the aperture of the reader.
Thus using three or four colored sources, such as light emitting
diodes, aimed at an area of the secure glyph, the fraction of the
light sensed or read will be proportional to the area of the secure
glyph printed in that color. Thus, the ratio of the R to G to B
response signals will form a unique identifier for the secure
glyph, without having to process the complete image of the secure
glyph. Such area average identification could be defined during the
design of the secure glyph on a printing plate, for example, where
the area or where the secure glyph or other secure materials placed
on the object or product can be determined independently from the
rest of the graphics on the object or product as illustrated in
FIGS. 11 and 12.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a spectrometer is
used as the signal response detector to provide a high level of
security. The use of such a high level detector would, for example,
avoid the problem of metamerism. The signal response may have
output signal intensity in a wide range of wavelengths and a
resolution ranging from several nanometers to less than 1
nanometer. The use of a spectrometer also allows the complete
emission spectrum profile to be obtained. The selection of the
spectrometer (over applicable wavelength range, sensitivity and
resolution) will depend on the physical and chemical properties and
features of the taggant materials used to form the secure glyph and
the signal emission wavelengths required for authentication.
In an embodiment of the present invention where a spectrometer is
used, the spectrometer can have a wavelength dispersive element,
able to detect the complete response spectrum for the secure glyph.
The data output of the spectrometer can be in the form of the
relative intensities versus wavelengths, where the emission peaks
are recorded and naturally become the fingerprint of the readable
security feature for the secure glyph.
In another embodiment of the invention provides object or product
authentication wherein the secure glyph is covert, for example,
using a printing ink, and generates a fluorescent signal response
that results from being excited by an ultraviolet or infrared
excitation source. The signal response generated will be in three
different colors. The authentication reader will typically perform
at least three different spectral characteristics, either by nature
(such as an LED being connected as photodiode) or by the addition
of a color filter that matches the signal response of the
fluorescent colorants used in the taggant material to formulate the
secure glyph.
The signal response detector is configured to send a signal
response to the SPU. After receiving the signal response, the SPU
performs a diagnostic analysis and retrieves the related secure
glyph property data from the database and compares this with the
signal response received from the signal detector.
The results of the comparison are then typically sent to an output
device which allows the machine to function or prevents the machine
from functioning. Preferably the output device includes display
unit which provides notification to a user of the result either
audibly, preferably visually.
The analysis hardware and output device may be a desktop or
notebook computer. Furthermore the output device may be a
standalone mobile application device (field type), having analysis
hardware, an SPU and associated electronic circuitry. The output
could appear on a small liquid crystal display panel, or other type
display. The database may either be built-in to the authenticating
apparatus or be connected to the apparatus via a wired or wireless
means, such as the internet or an intranet.
The authenticating apparatus may also include one or more input
devices for the user to input commands to direct or interact with
the authentication apparatus. The format for the data representing
the signal emission will depend on the signal emission detection
device used.
The authentication reader may further generate an output, which can
be connected to an SPU configured for outputting the result of the
authentication, to a manufacturer or user of an article, object or
product subject to the authentication. The reader may, for example,
upon failing to authenticate a trademark glyph affixed to an
article, object or product, send a command to the authentication
apparatus to cause the, object or product or a device using the
article, object or product to cease functioning.
It will be appreciated that the value of this authentication reader
functional aspect where a user of a counterfeit, object or product
is attempting to force the use or acceptance of the counterfeit,
object or product. The loss stemming from any failure to use the
object or product or any article or device associated with the
object or product can cause a user to contact the manufacturer in
order for the object, product, article or device to become
functional again.
By such a means, the manufacturer of the object, product, article
or device can limit counterfeiting and develop data on the
counterfeiting. Thus the lock-out and reporting aspect for the
authenticating apparatus and method of the present invention can be
commercially valuable for ink jet cartridges, pharmaceuticals,
vaccines, beverages and beverage and vending dispensing machines
and many other industrial articles, items and machines of various
types.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the
authentication reader may be designed to read and, optionally,
visualize the secure glyph and additionally have the capability to
read numerous pixels of information thereby capturing the shape and
orientation of the secure glyph.
The visualization could be provided by a miniature camera that is
either monochrome, or full color. In one particular embodiment,
where the entire geometric shape of the secure glyph is visible to
the naked-eye using a camera, there is no requirement that the
secure glyph be designed to have rotational symmetry. Furthermore
the camera captured image can be rotated or processed using
mathematical procedures and image processing.
Additionally, another layer of authentication protection is gained
when the total signal intensity of a signal response serves as an
additional verification criteria relating to the concentration of
the taggant material forming the secure glyph. Therefore, for a
certain object or product, one may simply double such concentration
to make a difference in the readable features of the secure
glyph.
The present invention also provides a machine with the above
mentioned authenticating apparatus incorporated therein or
associated therewith.
The machine could be an inkjet printer, a vending machine or a
brewing machine.
The present invention also provides a method for allowing for an
object or product having a secure glyph thereon to be accepted and
used for a specific intended purpose in a machine associated with
the authenticating apparatus as herein described above.
The method involves using the authenticating apparatus incorporated
within or associated with a machine to detect and recognize the
intellectual property protected feature alone, or in combination
with at least a portion of the machine readable feature on a secure
glyph and subsequently authorizing or allowing the intended use
object or product in or with the machine.
Furthermore the method may include initially affixing or attaching
the secure glyph to the object or product, printing or coating the
glyph onto the object or product and/or incorporating the glyph
into the object or product.
The present invention also provides a system for allowing a first
article to be used in combination with a second article
comprising;
a) authenticating the first article with a glyph thereon by
detecting a characteristic feature of the glyph with a detector;
and
b) allowing the first article to be used in combination with the
second article.
Advantageously, the glyph is a secure glyph is herein defined
above.
Finally, the present invention provides an authentication method
for determining the authenticity of an object or product having a
secure glyph thereon comprising:
affixing or attaching thereto, printing or coating thereon and/or
incorporating therein onto the object or product a secure glyph
having an intellectual property protected feature; and a machine
readable feature having a covert, and optionally an overt portion;
wherein said intellectual property protected feature is recognized
either alone as a machine readable feature; or recognized in
combination with at least a portion being a machine readable
feature; by an authenticating apparatus to determine
authenticity;
subjecting the object or product with the secure glyph affixed to
an authenticating apparatus to determine authenticity having a
database containing associated data corresponding to a signal
response from an intellectual property protected feature alone, or
combination with a machine readable feature; and an authentication
reader having: a signal generator capable of generating a signal
response from an intellectual property protected feature alone or
in combination with the machine readable feature on the secure
glyph; a signal response detector capable of receiving the signal
response from the intellectual property protected feature alone, or
in combination with the machine readable feature; and a signal
processing unit (SPU) for comparing the signal response from the
detector and the relevant associated data in the database; and
acknowledging the output from the authentication reader.
In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the object or
product authentication includes applying or incorporating a secure
glyph to the object or product; a database storing data related to
the signal response properties of the secure glyph; and an
authentication reader having a signal generating or excitation
source for emitting a signal towards the secure glyph for a signal
emission or response detection by the reader, and a signal
processing unit (SPU) for analyzing the signal response and
comparing the signal response with the data in the database as
illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, thereby verifying the identity and
authenticity of the object or product containing the secure glyph
or having it applied thereto.
The information so obtained may further either remain stored in the
database or may be communicated, e.g. via the internet to the brand
owner of the object. It is also a feature of this invention that
the information so obtained by the brand owner may be analyzed and
used to teach the reader device improved means of recognizing the
authenticity of the secure glyph on the object. Another possibility
is to program the reader device to seek a secondary authentication
measure for the object. These features are of special utility when
(a) a counterfeiter uses an authentic object of the owner,
containing an authentic secure glyph, where the reader and/or human
have little reason to not believe that object and secure glyph are
authentic, or (b) a counterfeiter produces a close match to the
secure glyph that might fool the reader and/or human into believing
that the close match to said secure glyph is in fact authentic. By
either of these means, false positives can be detected or avoided
and the apparatus reading the secure glyph can be taught to
differentiate between forgeries and authentic secure glyphs or be
taught to reference some other information that has been input into
the reader device to further enhance or improve its ability to
recognize the authenticity of secure glyphs and the objects
containing them.
The information so obtained from the data base may also, in this
instance, be conveyed to the police or to another local or
governmental security organization, in order to apprehend
counterfeiters and eradicate counterfeiting and unlawful uses and
representation of trademarks, trade names, copyrighted materials
and other intellectual property.
If the readable feature of a trademark glyph for determining a
counterfeit trademark that is used on or in association with an
object or product is visible to the naked eye, trademark
infringement could be established immediately by the owner of the
object or product. If the readable feature of the trademark glyph
is hidden to invisible to the naked eye, then a secondary exposure
source would be required to visualize the trademark glyph at some
point during or throughout the use of the object or product. A
hidden or invisible trademark glyph would add yet another level of
authentication security to an object or product, since it would not
be immediately clear to the counterfeiter why their counterfeit
object or product is being rejected and unacceptable, even though
it would appear to look and function the same, and contain the same
readable features as the authentic object or product. Also, a
hidden or invisible trademark glyph would preferably not impede the
view or appearance of any other marketing or decorative design or
advertising appearing on the object or product.
The important and distinct advantage the present invention
provides, is that the authentication apparatus is not only looking
for the presence of a naked-eye visible and reader visible feature
of the secure glyph applied on the object or product for
authentication, but is also simultaneously or sequentially looking
to visually identify and authenticate the secure glyph itself as,
for example, a trademark, trade name or logo, where such visual
identification offers another level of verification and
authentication for the object or product.
In another embodiment, a secure or trademark glyph is hidden or
invisible and is subsequently visualized to the naked-eye by use of
a reader that interrogates the secure glyph and displays the
trademark glyph on a remote analog or digital display screen
associated or part of the object or product. In this fashion, the
trademark glyph is still connected with the object or product it is
intended to represent and provides for a secondary visual
validation of the secure or trademark glyph during the
authentication of the object or product containing the trademark
glyph. Optionally, display of the secure or trademark glyph may be
accompanied by a validating, safety or advertising message or
signal, for example "authentic product" or "good to consume" or
"caution when handling hot beverages", "call this number for a free
sample" or a check mark or smiley face, appearing on the display
screen, in monochrome or full color. Those of ordinary skill in the
art will realize that other messages, codes and signals, including
those that may represent monetary value, can be generated by using
the secure or trademark glyph of the present object and product
authentication apparatus. Further optionally, the display of a
secure or trademark glyph may be used following normal use of the
object to verify the remains of said object in order to derive
further value for the consumer of said object, for example by
proving that the object qualifies for a rebate or a gift.
In a further embodiment, the secure or trademark glyph is hidden or
invisible and printed on an interior surface of an object or
product. For example, the interior surface of a laminated flexible
packaging material, wherein the assembly is substantially
transparent through at least one surface, to facilitate a means of
interrogating the hidden or invisible trademark glyph. Through at
least the one transparent surface, that is also substantially
transparent to visible radiation, a secure or trademark glyph
comprised of a fluorescent taggant material can be subjected to
excitation at wavelengths of infra-red radiation that the secure or
trademark glyph absorbs. The secure or trademark glyph may also be
applied as an adhesive, rather than a printing ink, on the
substrate of the object or product in such fashion as to accurately
represent the geometric design of the secure or trademark
glyph.
The present invention has been described in detail, including the
preferred embodiments thereof. However, it will be appreciated that
those skilled in the art, upon consideration of the present
disclosure, may make modifications and/or improvements on this
invention that fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.
The following examples illustrate specific aspects of the present
invention and are not intended to limit the scope thereof in any
respect and should not be so construed.
Example 1--Authentication of an Overt Secure Glyph on an Object
A glyph for an object was provided having an n-fold rotational
symmetry of 4 and which the intellectual property protected feature
was visible to the naked-eye by applying a printing ink or coating
containing a taggant onto the object by known application
methods.
The object was then interrogated by a handheld machine reader and
authentication conducted by both the naked-eye and the reader.
Example 2--Authentication of a Covert Trademark Glyph on an Object
and Use with a Machine
A trademark glyph was provided having an n-fold rotational symmetry
of 4 and which was invisible to the naked-eye by applying a
printing ink or coating onto the lid of the single use beverage
dispensing cup to create the design and form of the trademark.
The beverage dispensing cup is inserted into a beverage dispensing
machine or brewer, where upon insertion, the trademark glyph
becomes visible to the naked-eye. The beverage dispensing cup is
then subjected interrogation by an authentication apparatus
incorporated within the machine and the trademark glyph is
displayed a visual display on the dispensing machine.
Upon interrogation, the beverage dispensing cup is subjected to
identification and authentication by the machine reader and the
process of using the beverage dispensing cup either continues or is
halted based on the results of the authentication for the trademark
glyph appearing on the lid of the beverage dispensing cup.
Upon authorization of the trademark glyph, the beverage dispenser
continues its operation and a beverage is brewed and dispensed.
At the point where the authentication occurs and is verified, the
trademark glyph causes a trademark, logo or message to appear on
the display screen of the dispensing machine, and additionally a
message such as `ENJOY YOUR GENUINE BREW" or "AUTHENTICALLY BREWED"
is also displayed.
The trademark, logo or message continues to appear on the machine's
display screen throughout the brewing and dispensing process until
completion. The spent brewing cup may then be taken to a second
authentication center, where, upon presentation of said spent cup
to a second reader, a rebate or prize may be offered to the holder
of the spent cup. Upon non-verification of the trademark glyph, the
dispensing machine does not brew or dispense a beverage and a
message appears on the display screen notifying the user. The
unused counterfeit beverage dispensing cup is then either deposited
in a repository, or otherwise held or rejected.
Example 3--Authentication of an Overt Trademark Glyph on an Object
and Use with a Machine
A trademark glyph for an ink-jet cartridge for use in an ink-jet
printer was provided which was visible to the naked-eye. A printing
ink or coating containing a secure glyph is patterned deposited
onto an ink-jet printer cartridge to create the design and form of
the trademark glyph using a known application methods.
Trademark glyph design can be any shape because the ink-jet
cartridges preferably may only be inserted into the printer in one
way, so the orientation of the cartridge is mandated by the
printer.
The ink-jet cartridge is then inserted into a printer and subjected
to a means for interrogating the trademark glyph by a reader.
Upon interrogation of the trademark glyph, the ink-jet cartridge is
subjected to identification and authentication by the reader and
the process of using the ink-jet cartridge in the printer either
continues and accepts the ink from the cartridge or does not accept
the ink and the printer will not print.
Optionally, the printer may be further be disabled, either
temporarily or permanently until an authentic ink-jet cartridge has
been authenticated by the reader. A further option could require
that a message be sent from the printer, for example, via the
internet, or a digital or analog screen display, to alert the user
or manufacturer of the printer about the non-verification.
Example 4--Authentication of a Covert Trademark Glyph on an Object
and Use with a Machine
A trademark glyph for an ink-jet cartridge for use in an ink-jet
printer is designed to be invisible to the naked-eye. A printing
ink or coating containing a secure glyph is patterned deposited
onto an ink-jet printer cartridge to create the design and form of
the trademark glyph using a known application method.
The trademark glyph design can be any shape because the ink-jet
cartridges preferably may only be inserted into the printer one
way, so the orientation of the cartridge is mandated by the
printer. The ink-jet cartridge is then inserted into a printer.
Upon insertion into a printer, the trademark glyph becomes visible
to the naked eye and is subjected to a means for interrogating the
trademark glyph by a reader, wherein the reader is a handheld,
machine readable, or visual display, or a combination thereof.
Upon interrogation of the trademark glyph, the ink-jet cartridge is
subjected to identification and authentication by the reader and
the process of using the ink-jet cartridge in the printer either
continues and accepts the ink from the cartridge or does not accept
the ink and the printer will not print.
Optionally, the printer may be further be disabled, either
temporarily or permanently until an authentic ink-jet cartridge has
been authenticated by the reader. A further option could require
that a message be sent from the printer, for example, via the
internet, or a digital or analog screen display, to alert the user
or manufacturer of the printer about the non-verification.
Example 5--Authentication of an Overt Trademark Glyph on an Object
and Use with a Machine
A trademark glyph for a vending machine is provided to be visible
to the naked-eye. A printing ink or coating containing a secure
glyph is patterned deposited onto items found in the vending
machine to create the design and form of the trademark glyph using
a known application methods.
The trademark glyph may optionally be an integral part of the
substrates making up the items found in the vending machine,
including but not limited to bottles, cans, candy, potato chips,
chewing gum, etc. Preferred trademark glyph designs have n-fold
rotational symmetry greater than 3 and most preferably greater than
4 for ease of readability.
The items placed in the vending machine and, upon purchase, are
subjected to a means for interrogating or authenticating the items
identity by a reader wherein the readable feature is machine
readable.
Upon verification of the trademark, preferably the vending machine
dispenses the product. Upon non-verification of the trademark
glyph, preferably the vending machine does not dispense the product
and may return any money paid for the product.
Optionally, the vending machine may be further disabled, either
temporarily or permanently. Optionally, a message may be sent from
the vending machine, for example, via the internet, to alert the
manufacturer of the vending machine or the manufacturer of the
dispensed goods about the non-verification.
Example 6--Authentication of an Overt Trademark Glyph on an Object
and Use with a Machine
A trademark glyph for a detergent pouch, such as a dishwasher or
clothes washer detergent pouch is designed to be visible to the
naked-eye. A printing ink or coating containing a secure glyph is
patterned deposited onto the pouch to create the design and form of
the trademark glyph using a known application methods.
Preferred trademark glyph designs have n-fold rotational symmetry
greater than 3 and most preferably greater than 4 for ease of
readability.
The pouch is placed in the dishwasher or clothes washer and
subjected to a means for interrogating or authenticating the
pouches identity by a reader wherein the readable feature is
machine readable.
Upon verification of the trademark glyph, the washer uses the soap
dispensed by the pouch and runs a cycle. Upon non-verification of
the trademark glyph, the washer does not use the soap dispensed by
the pouch nor does it run a cycle.
Optionally, the washer may be further disabled, either temporarily
or permanently. Optionally, a message may be sent from the washer,
via the internet or to an analog or digital display screen to alert
the manufacturer or user of the detergent pouch about the
non-verification.
Example 7--Authentication of a Covert Trademark Glyph on an Object
and Use with a Machine
A trademark glyph for a detergent pouch, preferably a dishwasher or
clothes washer detergent pouch is designed to be invisible to the
naked-eye.
A printing ink or coating containing a secure glyph is patterned
deposited onto the pouch to create the design and form of the
trademark glyph using a known application methods.
Preferred trademark glyph designs have n-fold rotational symmetry
greater than 3 and most preferably greater than 4 for ease of
readability. The pouch is placed in the dishwasher or clothes
washer.
When the pouch is inserted into the dishwasher, the trademark glyph
becomes visible to the naked-eye and subjected to a means for
interrogating or authenticating the pouches identity by a reader
wherein the readable feature is machine readable.
Upon verification of the trademark glyph, the washer uses the soap
dispensed by the pouch and runs a cycle. Upon non-verification of
the trademark glyph, the washer does not use the soap dispensed by
the pouch nor does it run a cycle.
Optionally, the washer may be further disabled, either temporarily
or permanently. Optionally, a message may be sent from the washer,
via the internet or to an analog or digital display screen to alert
the manufacturer or user of the detergent pouch about the
non-verification.
Example 8--Authentication of a Covert Trademark Glyph on an Object
and Use with a Machine
A trademark glyph for a pouch or capsule suitable for dispensing a
biological fluid, vaccine, pharmaceutical or a medical preparation
is provided which is invisible to the naked-eye.
An adhesive composition containing a secure glyph is formulated and
patterned deposited, via spot coating, on a flexible substrate, for
example a polyester, to create a machine-readable trademark glyph
feature invisible to the naked eye.
A preferred trademark glyph design has n-fold rotational symmetry
greater than 3 and most preferably greater than 4 for ease of
readability. The trademark glyph may optionally be an integral part
of the substrate making up the flexible substrate.
The flexible substrate is then laminated to a second flexible
substrate, for example a nylon, and the laminated sheet is then
further fabricated into a pouch or capsule suitable for dispensing
a biological fluid, vaccine, pharmaceutical or a medical
preparation. The pouch in use is inserted into a dispenser, for
example a medical inhaler or a syringe and is only capable of being
punctured to yield up its contents upon authentication of the
trademark glyph by a reader in the dispenser.
Upon verification of the trademark glyph, the dispenser dispenses
the biological fluid, vaccine, pharmaceutical or medical
preparation and upon non-verification of the trademark glyph, it
disables the dispenser, either temporarily or permanently.
Optionally, a message may be sent from the dispenser, via the
internet or to an analog or digital display screen to alert the
manufacturer or user of the dispenser about the
non-verification.
Optionally, the dispenser is provided with a display screen so that
a message of authentication and any other valuable information
derivable from the trademark glyph, for example the identity of a
pharmaceutical and its dosage, can be displayed upon
authentication. Such a system may be employed advantageously to
authenticate, for example, the identity of an orally dispensed
polio vaccine.
Example 9--Authentication of a Covert Trademark Glyph on an
Object
A series of trademark glyphs for a vending machine are provided
that are visible to the naked-eye. A series of printing inks or
coatings containing secure glyphs are patterned deposited onto the
items found in the vending machine to create the design and form of
the two trademark glyphs using a known application methods.
Each trademark glyph comprises at least one readable feature. The
trademark glyphs may optionally be an integral part of the
substrates making up the items found in the vending machine,
including but not limited to bottles, cans, candy, potato chips,
chewing gum, etc.
Preferred trademark glyph designs have n-fold rotational symmetry
greater than 3 and most preferably greater than 4 for ease of
readability. The items placed in the vending machine and, upon
purchase, are subjected to a means for interrogating or
authenticating the items identity by a reader wherein the readable
feature is machine readable. Said reader will read at least one
secure feature on at least one of the trademark glyphs. It may be
programmed to read both trademark glyphs or one only of them, or
may be programmed to read the first trademark glyph then the other
on a defined sequence of objects. Upon non-verification of a
trademark glyph, preferably the vending machine does not dispense
the product and may return any money paid for the product.
Optionally, the vending machine may be further disabled, either
temporarily or permanently. Optionally, a message may be sent from
the vending machine, for example, via the internet, to alert the
manufacturer of the vending machine or the manufacturer of the
dispensed goods about the non-verification. Upon verification of
the defined number of trademark glyphs, preferably the vending
machine dispenses the product. Upon non-verification of at least
one of the trademark glyphs, preferably the vending machine does
not dispense the product and may optionally return any money paid
for the product. Optionally, the vending machine may be further
disabled, either temporarily or permanently. Optionally, a message
may be sent from the vending machine, for example, via the
internet, to alert the manufacturer of the vending machine or the
manufacturer of the dispensed goods about the non-verification.
Example 10--Authentication of an Overt Trademark Glyph on an Object
and Use with a Machine
A secure glyph, which also functions as a passive RFID (radio
frequency identification) antenna is designed such that the
intellectual property protected feature is visible to the naked-eye
and have an industry common geometric shape and configuration
typically seen for a standard RFID antenna (shown in FIG. 11). The
secure glyph, also carries the functionality of a passive RFID
antenna. The secure glyph is applied to a substrate or object as a
laminated structure of aluminum or copper. Alternately, the secure
glyph is formulated from a silver or copper conductive material,
printed in the geometric shape and configuration on a substrate or
object then cured by a standard curing method. The secure glyph is
capable emitting a signal response when interrogated by a reader
emitting radiation of, for example, a frequency of 13.56 MHz. Upon
interrogation, the secure glyph and the object to which it is
attached are authenticated by the reader. The output signal from
the reader upon authenticating the secure glyph may, optionally,
enable a copyrighted message, a trademark, or a trade name to
display on a screen, or enable copyrighted musical notes to be
played by a device interacting with the object to which the secure
glyph is applied.
Example 11--Production of a Trademark Glyph Containing an Overt
Intellectual Property Protected Feature and a Covert Machine
Readable Feature
One embodiment of the present invention (shown in FIG. 14) provides
a registered trademark of the DIC Corporation of Tokyo Japan as a
colored trademark glyph containing a light green colored area
behind the letter "d", a light blue colored area behind the letter
"c" and a 2-color mixture that produces a medium blue-green area
behind the letter "I".
The spectral reflectance factors of the light green color (PMS
7487) and the light blue color (PMS 298) over the visible portion
of the electromagnetic spectrum for the trademark glyph were
recorded (see FIG. 15). The spectral reflectance for the same two
colors, overprinted with an ink containing fluorescent taggant
(i.e. methylene blue) at low concentrations (so as not to markedly
affect the two visual colors that downconverts, were also recorded
(see FIG. 16). Each recording was made using an ISO 13655 compliant
spectrodensitometer.
A small "blip" or upturn in the long wavelength tail of each
color's spectral curve can be observed. This is due to the emission
of the covert taggant machine readable portion of the trademark
glyph and stems from when the methylene blue dye is excited with a
high intensity solid state laser authenticating apparatus with a
central frequency of 650 nm.
When the laser is not activated, the curves appear as they normally
would. When the laser is active additional radiance is emitted from
the print with the methylene blue dye and the long-wavelength
"blip" signature is captured.
Finally, FIG. 17 shows the radiant emission as a second machine
readable feature of the trademark glyph when the
spectrodensitometer source, as measured by the authenticating
apparatus, is not activated wherein the location of the laser
excitation being reflected and the methylene blue emission from an
unprinted portion of the substrate can be clearly seen.
Furthermore, two different thicknesses produce different emission
intensities as fluorescence which appears as a fairly linear
process, as measured by the authentication apparatus.
The example shows that a trademark glyph, according to the present
invention, can be printed on an object or product and thus allowing
for a method to establish and verify that the trademark was printed
and used by an authorized supplier or user of the object or
product.
While several possible embodiments are disclosed above, embodiments
of the present invention are not so limited. These exemplary
embodiments are not intended to be exhaustive or to unnecessarily
limit the scope of the invention, but instead were chosen and
described in order to explain the principles of the present
invention so that others skilled in the art may practice the
invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in
addition to those described herein will become apparent to those
skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such
modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended
claims. Further, the terminology employed herein is used for the
purpose of describing exemplary embodiments only and the
terminology is not intended to be limiting since the scope of the
various embodiments of the present invention will be limited only
by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. The scope of the
invention is therefore indicated by the following claims, rather
than the foregoing description and above-discussed embodiments, and
all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents
thereof are intended to be embraced therein.
All patents, applications, publications, test methods, literature,
and other materials cited herein are hereby incorporated by
reference in their entirety as if physically present in this
specification.
* * * * *
References